Platelet Indices And Their Ratios : Predictors of Pediatric Mortality

Platelets have been studied as predictors of mortality by various researchers. It has been shown that as platelet count decrease in sepsis due to various causes there are immature platelets in the circulation released from the bone marrow. These young platelets are larger in size. Studies conducted in canine model have shown that during sepsis mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) increases whereas platelet count and plateletcrit decreases. A increase in MPV has also been demonstrated along with decrease in platelet count in neonates. However these indices have not been studied in children. We hypothesized that ratios of MPV PDW platelet count and plateletcrit could be predictors of pediatric mortality.